Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-11
MYSTERIOUS DEATH or s1xrs.

An investigation into the causes Of the
mysterious decline and death of grape
vines at certain points in Southern Cali
fornia las been in progress at the lniger-
sltY Experiment Station for several wees
Tie work was undertaken TO test the re-
suits announced last year by re-investiga-
ton, and because the loss and vexation re-
sulting from death of vines continues in
the same localities affected last year.
Quite large collection of vines in diff
ferent stages of decline was scared from
the growers. In sonfe cases the vine was
almost lifeless and had made but the most
feeble attempt to break its buds. in others
one cane had made fairly vigorous start,
while others did little or nothing: in
others still, all the buds had thrown out a
few inches OF very weak cane Thus we
had for examination vines in various states.
The examination Of this material was also
much helped by careful descriptions of the
progress OF the trouble by the growers and
by personal investigation in the field bv
+. W. Morse. The results of the exami
nation as TO locating the trouble in the
vine itself were mainly negative, as was
the case last year. Although most careful
microscopic examination of the leaves and
wood Of the affected vines was made
there was no parasite of either animal
or vegetable nature found. In fact the
tissue of leaf, cane and trunk was
found to be perfectly normal except
that there were clear indications of
defective nutrition resulting from stop
page of the sap supply Why this stop
page occurred there was nothing in the
vines themselves to show. In some sam
pies submitted, a part of the sap ducts were
partly or wholly closed with gummv ma
terial, presumably the result Of condensa-
ton of the small sap flow, BECAUSE of lack of
pressure to carry it onward to the nourish-
ment OF the newer growth, but there was
not, on the whole, nearly sufficient obstruc-
tion to prevent the flow of sap had the
flow been normal. In fact, the deeapita-
tion of vines in the vineyard showed that
there was in some cases very little sap flow
ing and in others none at all. This check
ing Of the sap flow is not the immediate
effect of parasite attack, and where it
sometimes results as a secondary effect, the
tissue Of the plant shows the disorganization
produced by the earlier invasion of para
site growth. In the cases examined, this
source of trouble was plainly precluded
because the tissue was normal and healthy,
except in the noticeable deficiency in the
sap flow. This fact was determined by re-
peated examination, both Of cross and
longitudinal sections of the new growth,
the younger wood of the spurs, the trunk
of the vine and the roots and rootlets-
even to the smallest which could be found
ON the vines sent TO us.
This conclusion is a verifcation of the
results set forth last year by field examina-
tions by MIR. Morse and by microscopic in
vestigations in the laboratory-an account
OF which is given in the Viticultural Re
port of the University for 1886 page I76
e seq, to which the reader is referred.
His conclusion was that there was nothing
found that would indicate true disease
which might increase and spread to neigh
boring vineyards. but that the phenomena
were traceable to more or less accidental
and local peculiarities of soil, season,
moisture condition, etc. which may not
recur and produce similar effects for many
years. 1t is altogether likely that the con-
tinued decline of vines observed this year
is but the natural sequence of unfavorable
conditions prevailing in the winter and
spring of 1886. Since the loss has been
greatest in districts where vines have been
longest cultivated, it is possible that the
evil has been aggravated by the gradual
exhaustion of the soil; pointing to fertil-
ization as at least partial remedy and
preventive by enabling the vines to rally
from their enfeebled condition, through
the recuperation Of the root system.